Recycling can mean money for Wethersfield schools

The Wethersfield School District is one of several schools nationwide competing in the 2012-2013 Dream Machine Recycle Rally contest.

The Dream Machine program is a multiyear collaboration sponsored by PepsiCo., Waste Management and Keep America Beautiful to encourage working partnerships and increase the overall beverage container recycling rate to 50 percent by 2018.

Students, staff and administration are encouraged to collect nonalcoholic beverage containers — plastic bottles or aluminum cans — and bring them to school to earn rewards and compete for contest prizes. There’s a $25,000 grand prize that can be used for “Green Improvements” by three winning schools.

High school science teacher Jennifer Gault, who oversees the program at Wethersfield, said this is the third year Wethersfield students, primarily in high school, have participated in the recycling contest.

Last year Wethersfield placed 56th out of over 900 schools. Cash and prizes went to the top 40 schools.

Wethersfield is competing in a group of 95 schools with fewer than 400 students. There are two higher-enrollment categories.

A grand prize will be awarded in each of the three categories along with 20 top awards in all the divisions. A total of $10,000 in “Green Improvements” will be given to the second place winners; $5,000 to third place; $3,000 to fourth place; $2,000 for schools in fifth place; $1,000 for schools in sixth through 10th place; $500 gift cards for 11-15th places; and $250 gift cards to schools placing 16 through 20th.

The school collection contest started in September and will run until April 30.

Containers for the bottles and cans have been placed throughout the school buildings. Donations from outside sources are also welcome and can be dropped off at the outside entrance of the ag shop.

“The kids are really helping out and participating in the program, along with helping me meet the requirements outlined in the contest,” said Gault.

Students are also process the recyclables. Participating schools were supplied with a handheld scanner and laptop computer. The bar code on every collected bottle and can has to be scanned and the information downloaded into a computer program which tracks each school’s progress.

After the cans and bottles are scanned, they’re taken to Eagle Enterprises of Galva, for further processing.

Frequently new program contests and rewards are offered to participants as an additional incentive.